Archive for DVDs
Samurai Trilogy 3 dvds boxset (starring Toshiro Mifune) – $8
From Wikipedia.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_Trilogy
The Samurai Trilogy is a film trilogy directed by Hiroshi Inagaki and starring Toshiro Mifune as Miyamoto Musashi and Koji Tsuruta as Sasaki Kojirō. The films are based on the novel by Eiji Yoshikawa, about the famous duellist and author of The Book of Five Rings.
The three films are:
- Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)
- Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955)
- Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)
Together, they are a trilogy of epic proportions following the character growth of Musashi from brash – yet strong – young soldier to thoughtful and introspective samurai, culminating in Musashi’s duel with the greatest opponent he would ever face.
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One of Musashi earlier battles, with the sickle and ball expert, Shisido Baiken!
Slapstick Encyclopedia – 5 DVDS boxset – $30
Featuring Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, Harold Lloyd, Ben Turpin, Mabel Normand, Harry Langdon, the Keystone Kops, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Mack Sennett’s Bathing Beauties, and more!
Another collectors’ item Over 18 hours of vintage comedy footage
This 10 volume, 5 dvds collection brings together the Who’s Who of the silent comedy industry. Sort of like a 50 Best goals ever scored compliation. As always with such compliations, there are hits and misses but the overall standard is still high.
Amazon is selling for USD60 (http://www.amazon.com/Slapstick-Encyclopedia/dp/B00005Y6YV) , and here I am, letting it go for S$30. It hurts, but less so than being broke. Heh.
An in-depth review of the dvd boxset can be found here: http://www.dvdjournal.com/reviews/s/slapstickencyclopedia.shtml
The Milky Way (1936) – Harold Lloyd – $10
Synosis from back: Sullivan is a mild-mannered milkman who accidentally knockes out a boxing champion in a brawl. The champ’s shady manager sees an opportunity. He will use the milkman in a series of fixed fights, build up his reputation, then have the champ return and beat him. But sullivan’s good at just one thing – ducking!
The Harold Lloyd Collection – Kino Video – DVD $15
Move over, JAckie Chan!
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SCREEN COMEDIANS OF ALL TIME SEVEN HILARIOUS SHORTS AND A FEATURE
A review of the dvd here: http://www.kino.com/video/item.php?film_id=713
Kimmysan comments:
The silent comedy genre does not get the respect and attention it deserves. The gags and pratfalls that looked so effortless on-screen require precise timing and are as physically demanding as say, WWE stunts. You would know what I meant if you watched some of Keaton’s short clips and movies where extended action sequences are common.
Yet we often regard them as nothing more than clowns.
Jackie Chan is a self-avowed fan of the genre masters such as Lloyd, Keaton and Chaplin. Among others, he recreated Lloyd’s clock tower stunt (in Safety Last!)and Keaton’s falling house stunt in his own films (Project A: Parts I and II).
Attached below is an excellent clip of Jackie Chan paying homage to the genre in Project A. The clock tower scene was almost an exact conceptual replicate. (i think he repeated this in Shanghai knight or Noon with the Big Ben clock)
For your viewing pleasure. WATCH THIS EVEN IF YOU NOT BUYING!
We tend to think of action movies as mindless drivel but often a lot of thought was put into it. I had new found respect for Jackie Chan’s brand of physical comedy years ago after learning how he incorporated influences from films way before his time.
